We Shouldn’t Allow Few Individuals To Destroy The Ghana Police Service – Prof Aning
The Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs & Research, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre((KAIPTC), Professor Kwesi Aning, has underscored the essence of preserving the country’s security institutions.
The security analyst chided senior police officer COP George Alex Mensah and two others for passing divisive remarks about the Inspector General of Police(IGP) and the Ghana Police Service concerning the leaked audio tape plotting to oust the IGP.
On the leaked tape, COP Mensah, together with Supt/Emmanuel Eric Gyebi and Supt/George Asare, were captured in a conversation ostensibly plotting to remove the current IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, before the 2024 general elections.
COP Mensah, a former Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, upon invitation by a committee constituted by parliament to probe the matter, said police officers were not happy under the administration of the current IGP.
He made several claims about the Ghana Police Service.
COP Mensah said that Dr Dampare was the worst IGP because he has gagged police officers and doesn’t accept criticisms.
COP Mensah also alleged that the IGP had political affiliations with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He revealed that the police service was divided into NDC and NPP, and officers got promotions based on political affiliation.
Speaking on the matter, Professor Kwesi Aning said, “We shouldn’t allow few individuals to destroy the Ghana Police Service”.
Prof Aning indicated that “such utterances of a senior police officer publicly declaring his political affiliations threaten national security”.
He explained that there are established rules and procedures for grievances in a frontline national security institution, such as the Ghana police, adding it was wrong to settle personal scores in public.
“The primary role of the Ghana Police Service is to protect lives and property, and after 35 years or so, you turn around, and you tend to undermine the sanctity of that institution. I think that person should be punished,” he stressed.
The Police Service interdicted the three senior police officers on Thursday, September 7, but the service later rescinded the decision, citing conflict of committee recommendations.